Clare Kelly

Partner| Mediator

About Clare Kelly

“I do whatever I can to help my clients find a solution. Often this is achieved through out of court negotiations. But if you do have to go to court, I will be there to help and support you every step of the way.”

Clare Kelly is a partner at Anthony Gold. She specialises in the Business Services and the Dispute Resolution department, based in our South London offices at London Bridge.

Clare specialises primarily in contentious probate and Inheritance Act disputes, advising people about will and intestacy disputes. She also deals with debt collection and professional negligence cases.

Clare’s clients are often recently bereaved and in great distress. Clare has a sympathetic manner, and will help to minimise the stress of having to go to court. She recognises that disputes are often not ‘all about the money’ and works hard to get settlements that preserve family relationships. She frequently acts for children and other vulnerable clients.

Clare is a specialist in her field with a great deal of experience. She is used to dealing with multi-party disputes, and works effectively with lawyers on the other side to resolve disputes with the minimum of costs. She explains the legal process clearly to her clients, and discusses tactics throughout the case. When necessary, she works with other solicitors in the firm to make sure that all aspects of the case are dealt with in a co-ordinated and efficient way – for example by arranging the sale of property previously owned by the deceased.

Clare trained with the firm and qualified in 2005. She became a partner in 2011. She qualified as a mediator in 2012.

About Clare Kelly

“I understand that you don’t want to be locked into Court proceedings if it is not necessary. The time, costs and stress cannot be underestimated. I enjoy working with parties in dispute to find a settlement which suits all of their needs, often in a more creative way than Court proceedings would allow.”

Clare specialises in contentious probate and trusts litigation and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. She recognises the unique legal and emotional challenges which arise from litigating shortly after bereavement, and helps parties to find a way through their difficulties in order to reach settlement wherever possible.

Clare has a compassionate and friendly style, putting people at their ease from the outset whilst maintaining control of the process. She has great attention to detail, and is able to quickly appreciate the concerns which parties have so that resolutions can be structured around those – often in creative ways to address issues which Courts would not be able to deal with.

She is experienced at dealing with children in litigation, incapacitated parties and multi-party litigation, and is keen to promote mediation as a cost effective way forward in probate cases.

In Brief

A compassionate solicitor who considers all of her client’s concerns, and advises on the best way to resolve them, in or out of court.

Achieves settlements which are suitable for the individual circumstances incorporating compensation payments, the transfer of property and setting up trusts for children.

Completed the ACTAPS (Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) Contentious Trusts and Probate course – the only specialist training course for this area of law.

Qualified Commercial and Civil Mediator, accredited by the ADR Group.

Recommended in The Legal 500 ‘Clare Kelly is exceptionally knowledgeable and extremely efficient, and is a good negotiator who is sensitive to her clients’ needs and finds practical solutions’

‘has a great eye for detail but can also identify the crux of the dispute’ – Legal 500 2019

Recommended by clients:
“[Clare] has been absolutely wonderful – so lovely, extremely bright, and a rock when it came to getting us through the last two years.”
“Clare, you are a star of the highest order!!”
“It has been a difficult and stressful case and you have dealt with it efficiently and skilfully and with warmth and sensitivity”.
“Your skill, your expertise, in matters concerning Wills is I believe, second to none. Both myself and my wife will be forever in your debt….Saying thank you just doesn’t cover the gratitude and respect we both have for you.”